McDermott has a point to prove

13 April 2013 07:47

Brian McDermott is ready to get "right amongst it" as he aims to prove Reading wrong for sacking him last month.

The 52-year-old was appointed as Leeds' new manager on a three-year deal on Friday and will immediately get to work in the lunchtime meeting with Sheffield Wednesday. The game marks an almost instant return to the dugout for McDermott, who was shown the door at Reading after 12 years with the club in various positions.

Some considered him unlucky - he won the npower Championship title last season on a slim budget - and he concedes to wanting to prove his old employers wrong. Asked if he was keen to show they had made the wrong decision, he said: "The answer is yes. I have proved a point many times but you have a manager who is very hungry."

He added: "My assistant (Nigel Gibbs) and I feel we have a point to prove, but we all do. We are at a big club in a fantastic stadium."

The former Arsenal midfielder takes over a club that has gained an unwanted reputation for having its talent cherry picked, and the summer is expected to provide them with further tests of their mettle.

Star names such as Sam Byram are the subject of intense transfer speculation, while off the field, Leeds remain the subject of a confusing takeover bid meaning McDermott has little idea of what he will be working with.

With that in mind he says he has taken a leap of faith in accepting the role as Neil Warnock's successor - the veteran having fallen on his sword last week after failing to deliver promotion.

"The question about money available will be answered, I don't know the answer and have come here on a lot of good will," he added.

"I want to take this club forward, but no one person can do that on his own. Everyone has to be going in the same direction.

"But I live in the real world. At Reading I lost Gylfi Sigurdsson, a player who scored 20 goals for me and I lost Shane Long. When he left I thought there was no way we could win the league, but we did. And that showed me you can never rely on one player."